Prime + Proper

The Verdict

If you've been to Prime + Proper once and wondered whether it was worth going back, the answer is yes; and more deliberately next time. Detroit has steakhouses, but none that match Prime + Proper's combination of in-house dry-aging, a Cuisine-level commitment to technique, a wine program that holds its own against rooms twice the price in Chicago or New York. Compared to a standard upscale steakhouse, this is a more considered, harder-to-replicate experience; and it's easier to book than you'd expect for the quality on offer.

What Prime + Proper Is

Prime + Proper sits in a restored early 20th-century building on Griswold Street in downtown Detroit, the room earns its reputation before a plate arrives. Soaring ceilings, marble floors, glass-walled dry-age rooms visible from the dining area make clear that this is not a conventional steakhouse operation. The dry-aging program is the core of the kitchen's identity: all beef is butchered in-house and aged for a minimum of 28 days, with options extending beyond 100 days for certain cuts. The beef sourcing spans USDA Prime, domestic Wagyu, Japanese Miyazaki, grilled over an open flame. Chef Anthony Dirienzo leads the kitchen, the program reflects a serious, consistent focus on the meat itself rather than novelty additions to the menu.

The supporting menu holds its own, bone marrow with sourdough ash, butter-poached lobster tail, smoked foie gras torchon are dishes treated with the same technical attention as the steaks, without crowding the main event. The cocktail program is inventive and well-executed. The wine list, awarded a White Star by Star Wine List in July 2022, is one of the strongest in the Midwest: deep verticals of Napa Cabernet, Bordeaux, Italian Barolo, with boutique and rare-find selections guided by a sommelier team that knows the list well. For a returning guest, this is the program worth spending time on.

Who Should Book

Book Prime + Proper if you're returning for a celebration, a high-stakes dinner, or simply a serious meal. It handles the full range, power dinners, romantic evenings, group bookings for a milestone, without feeling like it's playing to a formula. Solo diners can sit at the bar and access the full menu without committing to a table. The setting and service level make it a strong option for out-of-town guests you want to impress with a specifically Detroit experience, not a generic fine-dining room. For visitors comparing it against steakhouse options nationally, the dry-aging program and wine list put it in a similar conversation to high-performing rooms in cities like Chicago, though it operates at a more accessible booking difficulty than something like Alinea or Lazy Bear in San Francisco.

What to Focus On This Visit

If your first visit was a straight steak order, the next visit is when to work the edges of the menu. The dry-aged cuts at longer aging durations are the most distinctive thing Prime + Proper does that you cannot replicate elsewhere in Detroit. The wine list rewards engagement: ask the sommelier team for a pairing suggestion rather than ordering by the glass, since the depth of the program is in the verticals and boutique selections, not the standard pours. The room is energetic on weekend evenings; if you want a quieter experience with more service attention, a weekday dinner is the better call.

Booking and Logistics

Booking difficulty is rated easy relative to Prime + Proper's quality tier, which is a genuine advantage. A week's notice is typically sufficient for most nights, though weekend reservations for larger groups benefit from more lead time. The restaurant is at 1145 Griswold St in downtown Detroit, accessible from most central hotels without much difficulty. Dress smart-casual to smart; the room has a polished energy and the clientele tends to dress for it, though there is no strict code enforced. For a broader picture of where Prime + Proper fits within Detroit's dining scene, see our full Detroit restaurants guide. If you're planning a full trip, our Detroit hotels guide, bars guide, and experiences guide cover the rest.